Accountants slam skills claims

ACCOUNTANTS have hit back at claims there is a shortage of “quality” graduates in the region.

A report by industry body Pro.manchester also claimed that this shortage of skilled candidates could hamper the region’s future growth.

It even suggested that the region’s accountancy graduates lack basic numeracy skills, and there is still a glass ceiling preventing females from becoming partners.

However, some of the North West leading firms strongly disagree with these claims.

Martin Kirby, regional managing director at Tenon, said: “It is absolutely not our experience that accountancy graduates in the North West lack basic numeracy skills. 

“To suggest that this lack of skills could hamper the region’s future growth is incorrect and implies that this is the only aptitude required. Any firm that expects graduate-level entrants to arrive fully prepared is simply naïve.”

Tim Edge, head of talent for North West audit at Deloitte, thinks the report does not give a true reflection of the sector in the region.

He said: “It states that there is a shortage of skilled graduates entering the profession, which from our point of view is completely untrue. In the North West, 72 graduates joined the firm this year, with applications up 22 per cent.

“Its results surrounding the quality of graduates are similarly out of line with our experience.  Each year, we see nothing but the highest calibre of candidates applying for places on our graduate programme.  

“We also break every notion that there is a glass ceiling keeping our female staff out of the top positions, with increasing numbers of women taking on partner and director roles at the firm each year.”